Azerbaijan: Ilham Aliyev Travels To U.S. To Visit Ailing Father

Baku, 21 August 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev (pictured) arrived in the United States today to visit his father, President Heidar Aliev, who is hospitalized in Cleveland, Ohio. Presidential administration spokesman Novruz Mammadov said the main purpose of Aliev's trip is to visit his father, who was taken to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio two weeks ago after nearly a month in a Turkish hospital.

The younger Aliyev also plans meetings with members of the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush.

Reports say Aliyev plans to discuss Azerbaijan's participation in postwar activities in Iraq, the country's long standing conflict with neighboring Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, and economic projects.